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Hi all,I am new to the forum.I am looking for a second hand upright piano.Currently I have some options and would like your advice:1. A very old (probably 1890) Bluthner. I think the serial number is 31250. I played it and it sound great. Was tuned several months ago. Cosmetically it doesn't look so great I have to say.The price is 1400$2. A 1964 (so the seller says - I still don't have the number as I haven't tried the piano yet) Feurich. It was played until several months ago buy his mother who passed away. It looks in a very good condition from the pictures. The price is 3200$3. A 30 years old YAMAHA U3 (probably made in Japan). Cosmetically very good, but wasn't played by anyone for a year.I haven't tried it yet. The price is 2500$

There are also some other options that I prefer less - 1. An 80 years old IBACH for 1000$2. Old GEYER (no other info) for 1600$ wasn't used for years but cosmetically very good.3. An old PETROF, I tried this one also (later can give the serial number) but didn't like the fell or sound of it.

At this age (and range of ages), you first need to play each piano. One (or more?) will stand out as the one you could most live with, and is within your budget. You then need to have it inspected by a good technician to ascertain if the piano is in good condition technically, or what repairs/service are needed to be done to the piano - and an indicative cost for that work.

Thanks for your reply.Of course I am planning to try them all, and finally expected by a technician.What I am asking, are those listed options something to consider, even before trying out? Or do I need to look for something else?(All the Russians pianos I didn't consider from beginning) Do the prices make some sense? And maybe some hunch (let's say all sound good) what to go for.

In your position I'd try the Feurich (and even the Ibach) they are quite interesting brands. I've seen some rather good ones of similar age(s), but of course all depends on their state and history, so....

Edit: An 1890's Bluethner may be a very nice instrument but I'd be worried a little about its longevity. One of my instruments is an approx. 100 year old Pfeiffer (small but excellent brand), and age really begins to show.

My favorite piano of all, and the one I bought, is the Yamaha Disklavier . It has the best Recording capabilities as it records both the keys and the pedals, and is the only system installed by the manufacturer. It also has the best Silent feature that comes with headphones so that the piano can be played and recorded without anyone hearing it, and the new models can play/record the piano along with CD recordings of your favorite vocalists. The vocal tracks on the audio CDs are also the genuine, original artist's recordings, not a special rendition.

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Piano players in Monsey, New York have relied on Charles Flaum since before 1990 for piano tuning, piano repairs and sage piano advice. Monsey, a family oriented village in Rockland County, is full of piano lovers with cherished pianos in their homes..

The Ibach and the Bluthner are the kind of pianos that someone would buy as a secondary instrument, a piano hobbyist or a technician who dabbles in refurbishing and resale. I don't think they are good bets as an everyday instrument.

The Geyer wouldn't even be appealing to that crowd.

This is just one opinion, but if I were in your shoes I'd follow up on the Yanaha U3 and the Feurich. The Yamaha is probably the safer bet, but the Feurich sounds intriguing if it's really been in a family and had light use. Either of these would need an independent inspection which you would pay out of pocket to make sure you're not buying a dead horse. An inspection usually costs around $100, so it's not something you want to do unless you've picked your favorite and want to confirm that it should be your favorite.. The U3 is very attractively priced if it is in good condition. The Feurich price is not as attractive, but a family with no use for a piano is often very flexible about price.

The Roland KR-33 is a bulky heavy digital piano that requires a stand. I think it came on the market around 10 years ago. It's not obsolete, but it is dated. A digital is a whole other ballgame. A contemporary digital with the quality and features of the KR-33 would cost under $1k new.

Thanks for the advice.I meant Rolex, not Roland. I am not interested in Digital piano. If you search youtube for 'Rolex KR-33' you can see some testing videos but all in Japanese, so I was wondering if anyone here have heard about it.

Thanks for the advice.I meant Rolex, not Roland. I am not interested in Digital piano. If you search youtube for 'Rolex KR-33' you can see some testing videos but all in Japanese, so I was wondering if anyone here have heard about it.

Sorry, I had no idea. Maybe Roland was trading off the success of the Rolex KR-33 when it introduced its own.

The best I could do was this link which placed it as a Higasinihon Piano brand [most likely Higashi Nihon] (defunct company).